One of the most important math concepts that was taught in week one math was finding the lowest common multiple (LCM) of two or more numbers, using prime factorization. I, Stefano Moino, used four steps to come to the product of any LCM. Step 1, Write out your two or more number and create a factor tree for each of them; a factor tree is when you branch off of number to find the factors that make up the number, until you reach its prime factors, (as seen in examples below). Step 2, write out the prime factors that you have come up with, for both or multiple numbers, and circle the common factors. Note: you must circle your common factors at a 1:1, 2:2, 3:3 ratio, and the commons factors can only be circled from top to bottom or diagonally not across the same row, (as seen in examples below). Step 3, put your common numbers on a ratio of 1:2 into one bracket and all of your uncommon number into a different bracket and multiply all your prime factors together in each separate bracket, then multiply each bracket together, (as seen in examples below). Step four, after you find the product of your two bracket you have found the final answer, (as in the examples below). This first example is finding the LCM of 9 and 12.
The second example is finding the LCM of 375 and 756.